Savage Lake residents hope to see speed limit on Montana 56 lowered

Some residents of the Savage Lake community in south Lincoln County want to see a decrease in the speed limit on Montana 56.

More commonly known as Bull Lake Road, the highway’s narrow shoulders in the area has Montana Department of Transportation officials considering some changes, but others are concerned they don't go far enough.

In June 2023, District 2 county Commissioner Jim Hammons sought a speed study on the road. Officials determined the study would begin at milepost 29 and continue north to the intersection of U.S. 2.

According to a Department of Transportation memo, “the public’s main concern is the existing speed limit for two miles along Savage Lake where all these residences are located.”

Rebecca Anderson, traffic engineer with the Montana Department of Transportation, presented a speed study at the Nov. 13 commissioners meeting.

It indicated that from Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2021, there were 10 traffic crashes in the study area. One included a suspected minor injury, one had a possible injury and eight crashes with no apparent injuries.

The study also showed an increase in crashes from milepost 29.5 to milepost 30 and from milepost 34 to 34.7. Half of the crashes occurred during adverse road conditions, such as ice, frost, snow and slush.

The study indicated 85% of drivers obeyed the speed limits.

Anderson provided statistics and recommendation for the study areas.

“The usual five-mile ramp-up and ramp-down stretches prior to the residential area do not exist so the recommendation is a reduction of 10 miles per hour, from 70 mph to 60 mph, for the stretch closest to U.S. Highway 2 for first two miles,” Anderson said. “In the next section, the study showed 60 mph and no change was recommended to the 55-mph zone other than extending it into the curve. 

“The final section does not meet shoulder width requirements, so the recommendation is to reduce the speed limit from 70 mph to 65 mph.”

But Hammons said he didn’t believe the state’s proposals go far enough.

“It seems to me that there are quite a few issues with that section,” Hammons said. “With the driveways approaching the highway from the lake side, most of those driveways are pulling up and in the winter time, someone has trouble getting traction and getting out and drivers are going over 55, and they come down over and the conditions are icy or slick. I mean that is a…. I don’t get it, I think [the speed limit] should be dropped to 45.

“I mean that is so unsafe,” Hammons said.

“Because of the driveways?” Anderson asked.

“Yes,” Hammons replied emphatically. “There’s a lot of people that live along that lake and to say it should be 60, it seems ludicrous to me.

“I talked with the sheriff’s department and they said we’ve only got two highway patrolmen for the whole county, so it seems to me that with that many traffic stops, and I’ve been out there quite a bit and there’s a lot of issues with that area, and people drive way too fast through there,” Hammons said.

Anderson said she could take some time to “dive into that if you’d like me to.”

But she also added that lowering the speed limit isn’t going to force some people to drive slower.

“You may have to discuss and look at some other solutions that better fit the problem,” Anderson said. “Even if there are other developments coming in, we don’t look at changing the speed limit until after that development is in.”

WHILE THEY aren’t part of the traffic study, which included a three-year timeframe ending Dec. 31, 2021, Bull Lake Road has seen fatal traffic accidents in 2023 and 2024.

The most recent occurred July 4 when a Libby man died after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a deer.

According to a report from Montana Highway Patrol, the man was driving a Honda CBR 1000 south near mile marker 33.5 at about 2:55 p.m. when it collided with a deer. The motorcycle slid and the man, who was wearing a helmet, fell off the vehicle. Alcohol, drugs or speed were not suspected factors in the crash.

The 2023 fatal accident occurred on the evening of May 19 when a 32-year-old Libby woman died in a two-vehicle traffic accident that left another person injured.

According to Montana Highway Patrol, a 77-year-old Troy man driving a Chevy Silverado was in the northbound lane of Montana 56 at mile marker 12 attempting to make a left turn into a private driveway at about 5:27 p.m.

A Jeep Wrangler, driven by a 31-year-old Libby man, was headed south when it came over the crest of a hill and collided with the driver’s side front of the Silverado. The Wrangler went off the west side of the road, rolling and flipping several times.

The driver and the passenger, the 32-year-old woman, were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the Wrangler. 

In his report, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Virgil Sadewasser indicated that the 31-year-old man was not injured.

Three boys, ages 7, 8 and 9, who were wearing seat belts, were also in the Wrangler at the time of the crash. The 9-year-old boy was taken to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center with injuries. The other two boys were uninjured.

Sadewasser wrote that road conditions were dry. Alcohol, drugs and speed were not suspected factors in the crash.

At the Dec. 12 commission meeting, Hammons urged people living in the area to share their comments about the issue and send them to him by Jan. 12 so he can forward them to state Department of Transportation officials.

Hand-written letters may be submitted to:

Jim Hammons, Lincoln County Commissioner, 512 California Ave., Libby, MT 59923. His email is jhammons@libby.org and his phone number is 406-283-2345.

    Some residents in the Savage Lake area of Bull Lake Road have placed signs urging motorists to slow down. They are seeking a reduction in the speed limit. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)